What to Write in a Retirement Card for a Coworker

Losing a hard working employee, coworker, and friend can be a difficult thing. Facing retirement is not facing the end though, only a transition from a working career to one laid out in rest and new opportunities. Finding the right words to share during this time can be hard. Here is a look at some great examples of what to writer in a retirement card for a coworker.

“All your life you were wondering why you tolerated an annoying boss and put up with irritating colleagues – retirement is the answer. Congratulations.”

“Best wishes in your retirement. Here’s to watching after grand kids instead of the bottom line.”

“Congratulations on your retirement! If you get bored, you know you can call us and hang out with us.”

“God retired after just 6 days of creating the heavens and the earth! What took you so long!”

“I am glad you finally retired. Now I can have your job.”

“I hope you continue to be successful. Thank you for thinking of me.”

“I thought you retired several years ago, you are just making it official now. I haven’t seen you actually work in a long time.”

“I would like to extend my condolences to your employer for the devastating loss. Happy retirement!”

“If you put as much effort into enjoying your retirement as you have all the years you’ve been working, you’ll have an amazing, productive, dynamic and long lasting retirement. You deserve it!”

“It seems that you spend most of your working years trying to focus on the positives of your job to make it bearable. Now it’s time to focus on all the negatives about working to make your retirement more pleasurable.”

“It’s great to see someone as deserving as you retire. Make sure you work just as hard at relaxing as you have in your long career.”

“Just as your work has been long and satisfying, we wish you a long and satisfying retirement.”

“Morning coffees will finally be what they are meant to be – relaxed and de-stressing. Happy retirement.”

“Now that you are done making the world a better place through your career, you have bigger and better things to focus on. You can make a big difference in your grandkid’s lives. We’re looking forward to spending some of your extra time with you.”

“Now that you’ve got through birth, crawling, walking, school, and many years of work, you can finally relax!”

“Retirement is just practice for the rest and relaxation you’ll get in heaven, but I think you need a lot of practice here on Earth.”

“Retirement is the working person’s wish come true. Here’s to getting your wishes granted finally!”

“Retiring is when you replace old tires with new tires. Isn’t that more like what your employer is doing.”

“Thank you for being a great coworker and friend. I was blessed to have you at my workplace. You were an ally for sure.”

“There’s one thing you should never do when you’re retired. Never WORK! You won’t get paid anymore.”

“To stay balanced in life, work like you’re retired and retire like it’s your job.”

“Usually words that start with “re” mean more than once, but I’m hoping that you can just “tire” without having to do it again.”

“We’ll miss you. You were one of a kind, and not easily replaced. Congratulations on your retirement.”

“We’re glad that you are retiring, and we are looking forward to spending more time with you. Best wishes.”

“When you think about the millions that you have made during your working years, it almost makes it seem worth it that you gave up a third of your life to be a slave to the corporation. Congratulations on the end of your servitude!”

“Word of your retirement got around and the company’s stock prices have soared. Everyone knows that they can hire someone, younger, smarter, and harder working to do two times the work you used to do at half the cost. Congratulations to you and the shareholders!”

“You always did work hard at not having to work. Now that you’re retired, you don’t have to work as hard at not working.”

“You are a person I really admire, because you are a person who gets to retire.”

“You better work harder than you’ve ever worked in your life. Your retirement is your new mission!”

“You can be taken out of the workforce, but the work can never be taken out of you. I am confident you’ll never stop working on things you love to do.”

“You can put new tires on an old car. That’s what you are doing now, ‘retiring.’”

“You were a great boss. You challenged me and supported me. I appreciate your willingness to listen to me.”

“You’re used to multitasking. Whatever you did, you were making money at the same time. Now you will be able to focus on one important thing, keeping your money.”

“Your new boss knows about your true work ethic, organizational skills, and excuses.”

“You’ve worked yourself out of a job and had to let your boss go. Way to go!”

If you are hosting your own retirement party for a friend or colleague, here are some great tips on what to say in your farewell speech. Preparing a draft and practicing your speech are just some of the steps you should consider ahead of time.